Casual by Mandarax

Rated K

Summary: General O'Neill is watching Daniel and Carter welcome Ishta's camp. Sacrifices episode tag.

Disclaimer – not mine, if they were mine I wouldn't have to write this :)

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General O'Neill stood up at the control room, watching Istha's camp – women, children, horses – climbing out of his Stargate. There were a lot of them. A lot of Jaffa women warriors. More Jaffa women than he'd seen since first meeting Teal'c, and that was eight years ago.

He stood, watching from above, hands in his pockets, as Daniel helped direct random Jaffa warriors from the gate to their new quarters. Daniel, what a dog. He's helping out generously, smiling at them, checking them out on their way down the walkway… He watched as Carter stood, hands on her hips, ordering airmen around to help the new Jaffa arrivals.

Then her eyes lit up. She called Daniel to her side, and pointed at the gate. Daniel's eyes, and his, followed her hand and they watched, standing side by side, as Rya'c came out of the gate, hand in hand with a beautiful young Jaffa woman he could only assume was the one who incurred Teal'c's wrath.

He watched the young couple climb down from the walkway and stop in front of Carter and Daniel. He watched as they exchanged pleasantries and Rya'c introduced his lovely new bride. He watched as Daniel casually put his arm around Carter's shoulders. He watched as Carter casually brought her hand up to hold on to Daniel's. He watched as Daniel casually squeezed her hand, once, twice. Then he watched as Rya'c and his bride walked away, and how Daniel hadn't taken his arm off Carter's shoulders. They were talking to each other. She was kind of smiling, and Daniel was smirking, obviously amused at something that had been said in the last few moments. He watched as just as casually Carter untangled herself from him and headed out the Gate room.

Two thoughts popped into his mind.

The first was a rational, normal thought – based on their behavior whatever it was they were talking about – he wasn't going to like it. Not one bit.

The second was less rational. Much less.

During those few moments they were talking to Rya'c, he really hated Daniel Jackson. Blood boiling, wring his neck, if looks could kill, hated Daniel.

He hated that Daniel could just put his arm around her, and hug her, and be able to freely show her affection. He wished he could do the same. He wished with every bone in his body that he could be like that with her. He wished that kissing her every morning when she came in and every evening when they went home like Daniel did was something he too could do. Not even the romantic aspect of a kiss mattered much at this point. Having her feel comfortable with him, the way she was with Daniel, even with Teal'c, was something he could only dream about. Lacing her given name in a conversation just as casually as Daniel did. Treating her like Sam, not Carter, just like Daniel did. Having her say his name, not his title, as easily as she spoke theirs.

He knew all of this wasn't possible because of their positions. He knew all of this would change one day, maybe even soon.

But for those few moments, he hated Daniel, and hating Daniel meant he could concentrate on not loving Sam, which meant he could go on.

With a soft sigh, General O'Neill turned and left the control room. He headed to his office. There was paperwork to do, after all.